Personal Statement
I have been interested in hockey as long as I can remember, way back to playing street hockey goalie with my friends when I was 7 years old. I played with my older brother and other older kids from the neighborhood, and since I was smaller than they were, I learned the importance of angles at an early age. I really wanted to try to play on ice and began playing ice hockey at age 10. I didn’t know how to butterfly; I had never had a goalie lesson. I had to rely on my position instincts and reading the play even as a squirt. The following year, I started formal goalie sessions and learned butterfly and skating techniques that I had lacked because I started playing so late. Ever since, I have dedicated myself to practicing hard on and off the ice to develop my talent with the goal of playing at an elite level once I graduate from high school.
I was selected for a U16 AAA team at age 15 after playing only five years, and a bonus to that achievement following that season was being invited to an NAHL main camp after attending a pre-draft camp. I was selected for that main camp from a large pool of goaltenders who were up to five years older than I was.
I played two seasons at the AAA U16 level and was selected as starter for the AAA U18 team; however, due to several players going to play college or junior hockey, there were not enough players to field a team. Subsequently, I was offered a roster spot on a Canadian Junior A team, but since I wanted to take several AP courses my senior year, I decided to stay home and play high school club hockey so I could finish my senior year at my high school. I have enjoyed playing with a number of my classmates; we have worked hard as a family and finished our season by winning the league championship. We are slated to compete in the state championships the first week of March and are hopeful that we will advance to nationals.
I am very focused on academics as well as hockey because I feel both are important. My goal after high school is to find a program that is a great athletic and academic fit. I feel that my commitment, perseverance, work ethic, and talent would lend itself well to an elite hockey program.
